Howabd



H. L. FISCHER.

PENCIL.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I1, I9l8.

Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

UNITED. STATES TY PATENT OFFICE.

Iowans n r-rscmtn, or am. PAUL, unnmsora.

' rmrcm lowing is a specification.

trating Thls invention relates to apencil which particularly ada ted touse a marking e of a very smal diameter but of a. considerable length so that the marking lead held in writing position can be readily ejected or released and pushed back into the pencil casing to protect the same. The pencil does not retuire any sha ening, owmg to the small iameter of t e marking lead and does not shorten in use. The primary object of this invention is to provide a socket or hold- --means for the marking lead, held in writing position, which will allow the ejectin mechanism to eject the entire marking 1e out of the pencil casing.

A further object of this lnvention is in means for automaticall resetting the socket in position, or in rea iness to receive the rear end of a new marking lead. Theconstruction of this pencil is such that the body portion of the marking'lead is held unsupported in thepencil casing, while the barrel of the pencilsupports the marking lead in close proximity tothe writin end of the lead, and the socket, which is connected to the ejectin mechanism, holds and supports the rearen of the marking lead in writin position.

In e drawingforming part of this specification: r

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the pencil, illudtrating a portion thereof in cross section. w a

Fig. 2 is a detail of a portion of the pencil partly illustrated in cross section, and illus- 'a"portion ofthe parts in a difierent f pesition.- m,

Fig. 3 isan enlarged view of a portion of the pencil partly illustrated in cross section.

Fig. 4 is a view-ona the line 4-4 of Pi 3.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal cross section 0 the panel barrel.

Fig. 6 illustrates the manner in which the ejecting mechanism is reset in a backward position readyfor a new operation.

Fi 7 'is a perspective view of a portion of pencil mechanism, illustrating the J Specification of Letters ratcnt.

Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

Application fled-December 17, 1918. Serial Io. 887,306.

manner in which a new marking lead is inserted in the holding socket.

8 is a detail partly in cross section of an a ternative construction of lead holding socket.

In the drawing A represents a pencil hava tubular barrel 2 with a conical forward on 3, the apex 4 of which is formed with an axial opening 5. The opening 5 is a proximately the same size and shape as t e cross section of a marking lead 6,which is adapated to be used in this pencil.

An ejecting mechanism B, which is inclosed in the housing 7, is adapted to be held removable and in position for operation in the pencil barrel 2 b means of the removable head or ca 8 t a threaded portion of which engages t e threaded portion 8 .in the rear end of the barrel 2. The ejecting mechanism in the housin 7 is of any ordinary contsruction such as i lustrated in my Patent No. 1,349,950, and is 0 rated by the pusher rod 9, the cap 10 of w ich projects through an' opening 11 in the head 8 so that the cap can be enga ed and reciprocated to reciprocate the pus er rod 9, and in turn operate the ejecting mechanism in the housing 7.

When the ejectin mechanism is operated, the ejector rod 12 o the same is operated to move the same in a forward direction a step at a time, and a releasing means 13 is adapted to release the ejecting mechanism so as to allow the ejector rod 12 to be pushed in a backward direction when it is desired to reset the same for a new operation, or to allow the marking lead 6 to be moved in a backward direction when held in writing position in the pencil A.

A socket 14 is slidably held on the outer or free end of the ejecting rod 12, the socket 14 being held against disengagement from longitudinally extending slot 17 formed in the socket 14. -A coil spring 18 is soldered, or otherwise fixed at its forward end at 19 to the tubular socket 14, while the free end of the sprin 18 is adapted to enga against the end 20 o the housing 7, when life e ector rod 12 is set in a backward position, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 7. The coil spring 18 is strong enough to hold the socket 14,"

. against the socket 14' and end 16, the ejector 7 against the socket 14 to holditin outer'po- H siti'on when it is desired to insert a new tact withthe end 16 of the ejecting rod 12, and remain there during theentire ejecting strokeof'the ejector rod 12. If the spring with its forward end 21, projecting beyond the end 16' of the ejector rod'12, as illustrated in Fig. 3, thus forming a recess 22 which is adapted to receive the marking lead 6 to hold the same'frictionally tight in 'the socket 14. a

In operation, the marking lead 6, which is held in writing position in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1, is ejected a step at a time by the ejecting mechanism outof the writing end or apex 4 of the pencil barrel, and when-the marking. lead .6 is used up enough so as to eausejthexend 21 of the socket 14 .to engage against the inner surfaceofithej conical'end, the socket 14 is held stationary while the ejector rod 12 can be foperated by the ejecting mechanism to slide forward throught-he recess 22 to eject socket 14 is onlyfrictionally held, either by :the rear coils ofj'the spring 18 or byithe socket itself, to the forward end-of the ejectingrochbut when the ejectingrod is reset, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 6, by holding the casing 7 between thethumb and middle finger and first releasing the ejectin mechanism by pressing on'the cap 10 wit the index finger andthen exerting pressure rod 12 is easily pushed, into backward position, compressing the spring 181and causing thesocket 14 to be rigidly held in the position illustrated in Fig. 3, so that it will not move in 'abackward direction on theejector rod 12 when a new marking lead is inserted in the forward end-of the socket in therecess 22. This feature is important, as it is desirable to have a considerablev pressure marking lead, otherwise, if the spring 18 were weak, when the markinglead 1s inserted intherecess 22, the frictional engagement between the socket and the rear end of the lead would cause the socket to move backward, and thus not allow the rear end of the marking leadto be brought into con- 18 compresses and allows the socket 14 to slip backward while the lead 6 is being inserted in the recess 22, upon releasing inserting pressure fromthe lead 6, the spring 18would push the socket out and leave a space between the end 16, and'the rear end .of thema-rking lead, thus allowing the lead the end 20 of the housing 7.

to have asli ht play when held in writing position. 'ThlS would not be practical, and is undesirable, as the lead should be held rigid against backward movement when writing with the same.

It is desirable not to have any pressure on the spring 18 when the end 21 of the socket 14 is engaging against the inner conical'surface or apex of the pencilbarrel, as

this would interfere with the ejecting mechanism in the housing 7, and would prevent the ejecting rod 12 from having its end 16 freely ejected through the recess 22 of the 5 in the pencil -bar-.

socket, and theopenin rel, while the slight fiiction of the socket or rear coils of the spring 18 would not interfere with this, and would be desirable to hold the socket in position on the forward :end of the ejectingrod, afterthe rear coils of the spring 18 become disengaged from In the alternative construction 14, illustratedin Fig. 8, thespring 23 has its forward end secured to therrear of the socket 14 rigidly M24, and the rear coils of socket of the spring are rigidly secured at 25 to the-ejector rod 12. In this construction, the spring. 23 exerts a spring pressure against the socket -14 to holdit in outer position-at all times, but the spring: 23 is. weak enough to allow the same to be compressed by the ejecting mechanism when the forwardedge 21 of thei socket is ejected by the ejector rod 12 into 'theposition illustratedjin Fig. 2, and allowthe end 16 of the ejecting-rod to pass through the socket or recess 22. and.-

through the opening 5, to entirely and completely eject the marking lead. I j

The preferred construction of the slidable socket 14 with the spring 18 is adapted to be adjusted in position toreceive the newmarking lead f6 automatically by the spring 18, as illustrated by the position in Fig. 3.

In accordance with the patent statutes, 1 have described the principles of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which "I now consider-to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have itunderstoodthat the construction is only illustrative, and that the invention: can

be carried out by other means and applied" touses other than those above set forth within the scope ofthe followingclaims.

1.- In a pencilofthe classdescribedy-an ejecting means, an ejector rod connected :to

saidv ejecting means, a lead holding socket-.-

on said rod, means for automatically setting said socket in receivingposition on said ejector rod when'said rod lsisetin a' backward position and means for allowing the end of said rod, whichforms an abutment for the marking lead held in saidsocket, to be extended or -moved longitudinally in ['Sitld socket to 'ej ect the-marking lead out (of said s'ocketand .pencil for the.) purposes specified.

2. In a pencil of the class described, a barrel, removable ejecting means held in said barrel, an ejector rod connected to said ejecting means which is ada ted to be moved forward a step at a time by said ejectin means, releasing means for releasing sai ejecting means to allow the ejector rod of said ejecting means to be moved in a backward direction, a slidable socket for holding a marking lead to said ejector rod and means for holding said slidable socket a inst disengagement from said ejector rod, w ereby the marking lead can be held by said socket and ejected a step at a time out of said pencil barrel and said slidable socket will allow said ejector rod to eject all of the lead held in writing position out of said pencil by said ejecting means.

3. In a pencil, a barrel, an ejecting means removabl held in said barrel, an ejector rod connected to said ejecting means which is adapted to be moved a step at a time in a forward direction, releasing means allowing said ejector rod to be moved in a backwar direction and means on said ejector rod for holding a marking lead so that all of said lead may be ejected out of the forward end of said pencil, said lead holding means on said rod being removable with said ejecting mechanism and said ejector rod.

4. In a pencil having a tubular barrel, a conical forward end, an axial opening extendin through the a ex of said conical end 0 approximately t e same size as the cross section of the marking lead to be used therein, ejectin means removably held in said pencil barre a slidable lead holding socket connected to said ejecting means, re easing means to allow said ejecting means to be moved in a backward direction, means for automatically setting said lead holding socket in position to receive a new marking lead on said ejecting means and means for holding said socket against disengagement from said ejecting means for the purposes specified.

5. In a pencil having a lead ejecting means, a re easing means for said lead ejecting means to allow the ejecting means to be moved in a backward direction, a slidable lead holding socket connected to said ejecting means and means for automatically set ting and rigidly holding, against backward movement, said socket in receiving position to receive a new marking lead when said ejecting means is set in extreme backward position, said holding means diminishing in olding power, as said ejecting means is moved in a forward direction in said pencil, so that when said lead holding socket engages the inner surface of said pencil barrel, said ejecting means can slide in said socket with only a slight degree of friction or holding force from said holding means bearing against said ejecting means, said ejecting means forming an abutment for the rear end of the marking lead held in the socket to rigidly hold the lead against backward movement when held in writing position. 6. In a pencil having a barrel, a removable ejecting means held in said barrel, an ejector element connected to said ejecting means which is adapted to be moved a step at a time in a forward direction in said pencil barrel, releasing means for allowing said ejector element to be moved in a backward direction, a slidable lead holding socket carried by said element and means for automatically setting said socket in receiving or forward position on said element for the purposes specified.

7. In a pencil having a hollow tubular barrel, an ejecting means adapted to be removably inclosed in said barrel, an ejector element connected to said ejecting means which is adapted to be moved a step at a time in one direction longitudinally in said pencil barrel, releasing means for allowing said element to be moved in a backward direction, a slidable lead receiving socket carried by said element, means for holding said socket against disengagement from said element and resilient means for holding said socket in a forward direction, but allowing said socket to be moved longitudinally on said element to eject the marking lead held by said socket completely out of said pencil and socket by said element, said element forming a rigid abutment for said marking lead when said socket is in its forward position on said element.

HOWARD L. FISCHER. 

